Tony Kemp: Knights & Dolphins Set for Thrilling One-Match Shootout for Last NRL Finals Spot

[Music] it's only Sport with Martin develin on the platform brought to you by one New Zealand let's get connected look out the captain's away the rugby league hour brought to you by microbio Solutions limited makers of ilu the new way to clean up Dairy effluent and Wastewater while increasing the fertilizer value of your Irrigation in one easy step visit microb bio. co.nz for more powerful try round 26 kicked off on Thursday night and that was the Cowboys betting an under strength storm manly was it an upset against the Bulldogs Bulldogs won five in AOW going into that game 3422 on Friday night Panthers easily beat the rabbits eels massive lead against the dragons then whole lot of garbage time tries but they clung in there hung on dolphins just whacked at the Broncos Warriors coming back great win against the Sharks what does it mean well Tony Kim can explain Knights taking care of the Titans which gives them a home final fixture to make the eight and the Raiders great win again for them but it's probably too little too late Tony Kim up the W how good is that Tony let's kick it off with the Warriors because the season is now officially over there's a buy next week not in the conversation it all ends with a a really good comeback win against crala but I I don't know I mean look if if you're the kind of fan that that you're satisfied with that that's happy and you think okay well that's a great way to finish the season you got momentum going into next year all well and good for you but I don't know it just feels a bit flat to me because it just you know what does it mean well you you know I think how you're feeling Marty is you're disappointed you know a bit like a br Brisbane bronos fan you know you went to the Grand Final last year you're leading by 12 points with 10 minutes to go and you get run down by penth and lose the Grand Final I think I think the sort of similar feeling where you can go out against a top four side and beat them on their last game of the season um and yet you're you're not even anywhere near the finals um conversation and and I I reckon you know the way the fans have been this year they'll be really happy with that win but um deep down they'll be saying well help you know if we can beat crala like that with niik heines back on the side how come we're not playing in the final series and um I remember Mar back in 95 you know like Canal have always been that team where the Warriors have played really good against and and won some epics I remember Richie Blackmore going down that right Edge and slipping that pass you know one of his famous passes to Shan hoppy to win the game for the way back in 95 and and Shawn Johnson's done the same thing over the last couple of games that they've played there and all about it for Sean I'd take um his last game sent up the last try in the last 20 seconds uh a great again great theater uh great result but overall for the season I think very disappointing yeah you just said there I mean that's what I'm feeling you know I I just don't want to celebrate it too much because I just think well what am I celebrating I'm celebrating nine wins out of 24 and in what half a dozen games which are lost by six points and it just it really does feel like what might have been well yeah that's you know that was my whole point um just in the last bit of dialogue you know what might have been for a number of teams um this year I think you know if you're a brisban supporter you'd be absolutely pulling your he out because after last year's effort you you know they probably favorites at the end of the year to make it through to the the top four at least and fighting out for another grand final but they they're not even going to make the eight um it it's been that season Marty we said right at the beginning that it'll come down to the last game of the season just to uh to all out the top four and the top eight and and it's definitely played out that way um and the team that's missing on you on this side of the Tasman of course is the Warriors who have finished I think 13th um for the year and you know if you're if you're not disappointed um and you're walking and happy that you're a warrior supporter I think I think you really need to have a decent look in the mirror because you know given given where they were last year finishing in the top four fighting for one one spot away from the Grand Final um everyone's expectations at the beginning of the year we're talking about yep we're definitely top four this year and we're going to push for push for a final spot um that hasn't even been realized or anywhere near it this year and um I guess for me Marty was really about celebrating Shawn Johnson's last game you know like it could have gone any better for him well yeah I mean yeah very tough yeah and look and and you know if that if that was a game that you know propelled us into the top eight or something I'd be you know dancing from the ceiling of course you know um and and you know he goes out on a high and you know good on him and he's got this plan which I was reading on the weekend where he'd like to actually Mentor up and cominging Sixers and sevens and and I thought that sounds like a good idea I don't know kind of what schemes are in place or whether there is or whether it's just up to individual clubs to do that kind of thing but it makes perfect sense that you know guys that have just finished their career to me are actively involved especially in a position like his well I think you know the Warriors will definitely have a place for them at at the uh at the club I think if you're you're looking at the commercial benefits of having sha involved in the club you know he's got a massive social media following um you know he's married to to a silver silver Fern he's you know he's he's got the making of the of the it couple As far as um marketing goes you know and and and they'd want to be sort of I guess leveraging off that um going into these these especially these first few years where he's not playing football and bringing him back into the club so I think there's a definite there's a definite position there for sha whether it's mentoring halfbacks or not um there yet to be seen but I think we'll see Shan Johnson around the Warriors for um for few years to come and and even The KES in some sense where he maybe helping you know the likes of Steven KY and and Nathan CIS with the with the young boys coming through but you know the the season really for sha has been one of missed opportunities I think you know if he reflects on on this year his percentages haven't been right up the scratch I know he talked about you know Andrew Webster bringing bringing him back to a place he never thought he was going to get to and and you got to take tip your hat to Webster for doing that last year but you know if you're looking and reflecting on the season that we've just had Shan Johnson was a key component why we're not playing in the eight um and I think he'd be disappointed about that you he he'll take the he'll take the win against grala and the and the exit and the way that it happened on the weekend cuz it again it was great theater um but when he sits down after you see a few years you know today and tomorrow and it really reflects where the Warrior season should be I think he'd be the first to admit that they should be playing in the finals one final question on the Warriors before we move into the teams that actually do count from here on and that are actually playing finals football I want to be playing it is this squad good enough to improve then upon the position and and and and where it has finished this year I mean or or or who needs to be added and and what changes have to have to take place to get us from 13th spot because that's the reality of it you can talk about it as as many different ways as you as you want but the reality of it on the points table is 13th with 23 points from 24 games and nine wins and one draw so can this squad produce what it wasn't able to this year next year Well if I was going to give you a snapshot Marty the simple answer is no um and and people you know I know Paul is probably saying you know kim ki mind at a funeral but the reality is is you you're you're losing a marquee number seven and a marquee number middle forward um yes you're bringing Fisher Harris over here so you're getting a light light uh as far as the the middle forward goes but you still haven't um positioned yourself with a mark number seven and I think you know in the competition this year if you're looking at your top four sides have Marky seven and inside their sides um as well as their number nines and you know if we're looking improving on on next year I think there needs to be a couple of Acquisitions uh especially in in that spine uh that you know it's going to probably take them further up the table and if you're just asking a question can they talk with the squad that they've got going into next year my simple answer is no it's only Sport with Martin develin on the platform brought to you by one New Zealand let's get connected e e e